Tan Tao Group's women attend the Global Summit of Women 2008

The Tan Tao Group’s delegation led by Mrs. Dang Thi Hoang Yen, Chairwoman of the Management Board; and Vice-presidents Ms. Nguyen Thi Suong, Ms. Le Luu Huyen Thanh; have attended the Summit together with the participation of nearly other 1,000 women leaders from 100 different countries worldwide.

The attendance of the female Prime Minister of Mozambique, female Ministers, Chairwomen of Groups, and large corporations including Daimler, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Phzer, IBM, EMC2, Trapezia, Qiagen, ITT, Hudson, RR Donnelley, and MCM to name but a few have demonstrated global interest in the Summit, and particularly in Vietnam.

According to Mrs Tran Thi Thuy, Vice-president of the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chairwoman of Vietnam businesswomen committee, and Head of the Organizing Board, “this event is expected to be a golden opportunity for women leaders and female CEOs in the world to meet up, to exchange experiences and to facilitate business cooperation. In particular, the Summit will award prizes to typical outstanding women entrepreneurs of the Southeast Asian region selected by the VCCI in coordination with the ASEAN CCL and ILO."

In continuing the success of the previous summits, the Global Summit of Women 2008 in Hanoi is a prestigious global summit that helps to build a link and bridge to unite and gather influential women leaders to propose to Governments to resolve issues of business and gender equality in the global economy.

The summits have established and expanded the community of businesswomen and added to the database of women as corporate executives within the past 10 years. This has occured in all continents and is hoped to achieve the summarization and exchange of ideas and issues faced by women worldwide, regionally and nationally.

Women delegates meet up with the Organizing Board of the Global Summit of Women 2008

The Summit has enabled opportunities for enterprises and women entrepreneurs worldwide to meet up to seek investment and business opportunities, honoring typical women entrepreneurs for the significant contributions to the development of nations.

The Forum will focus its discussion on the issues of international interest including Vietnam such as: Vietnam–A Strong Rising Economy, the Business Development in Asia, the Dialogue with businesswomen, Business and Youth Forum, Social Responsibilities of Enterprises, Female Corporate Executives Forum, Opportunities and Challenges for the Asia Pacific region, Improving Small Enterprises, Work-life Balance...Particularly, the women trafficking issue will be discussed during the Summit.

The Event is so called a “Davos for Women” because of the presence of high caliber delegates at the Summit to make it an exhilarating, informative venue for the exchange of real experiences. The Global Summit of Women 2008 continues to focus on boosting economic development for women to approach the markets in Asia Pacific regions; to best build new business alliance and to share the practical experiences.

Specifically, the 'Business in Vietnam Forum' focuses upon two topics: 'Vietnam's Economy – Acceleration and Sustainable Development, and 'Post -WTO Investment: Investment’s attraction and Effectiveness Strategy'. Both were attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Ministers, Vice-ministers and numerous entrepreneurs. During the Forum, delegates discussed the opportunities and challenges facing Vietnam, proposing that the Government should support efforts to meet the target of sustainable development and growth, measures to facilitate foreign investment and to share experiences from typical enterprises.

"As a hosted country with recognized achievements in implementing gender equality, women in Vietnam comprise 51% of the national population, 49% of the national labor force, and 25% of all corporate executives. The ratio of the National Assembly‘s women delegates is the highest in Asia and the second highest in Asia Pacific region. We can absolutely take advantage of this opportunity to promote Vietnam and enterprises and to seek cooperation opportunities to approach new markets and to build up new business alliances."

“Women comprise 40-50% of employees, 30-40% of enterprise owners and make 80% of shopping decisions in developed countries. They represent for a strong and potential economic force which is not always properly shown through the leadership structure of enterprises and governments in the world. We gather in Vietnam to share our best experiences in the process of promoting economic progress to women because women can share a lot with each other, they can encourage and guide other women from their own experiences.”

(Irene Natividad – Chairwoman of the Summit)

Việt Thắng (translated by)